,C 152 
.P8 P5 
1920 
Copy 1 



REPORT 



OF THE 



ARKANSAS ILLITERACY 
COMMISSION 



Arkansas Illiteracy Commission 

December 1920 



REPORT 



OF THE 



ARKANSAS ILLITERACY 
COMMISSION 



Arkansas Illiteracy Commission 

December 1920 






Letter Written by a Man Who Was 
Illiterate on First Day of Year 



<t ^^^£Zcf^r%^ < ^^ z?6jL 9z**C 9z*— 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ( 
RECEIVED 

OCT 5 1925 

DOCUMENTS 0*Vr$loN 



REPORT- OF THE ARKANSAS [LLITERACY COMMIS- 
SION WITH STATEMENT OF WORK AND 
ACTIVITIES. 

The Legislature of P.>17 created the Arkansas Illiteracy 
Commission, but the Commission lias never been given an 
appropriation with which to carry on its work. 

In pursuance to the provisions of the Act creating the Com- 
mission, the Governor appointed the following persons as mem- 
bers of the Commission: .Mrs. Clio Harper. Little Rock; Airs. 
R. F. Milwee. Clarendon; Geo. \Y. Reid, Fort Smith: J. W. 
Ramsey, Paragould; L T . C. Harnett, Dermott; W. A. Ramsey. 
Fayetteville ; Sam Criswell, Bradford; and [Try McKenzie, 
Texarkana. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction 
was by the provision of the act made a member ex-officio of 
the Commission. 

Tin 1 Commission met soon after the appointments were made 
and organized by electing the following officers: Ylrs. Clio 
Harper. President; and J. L. Bond, Secretary-Treasurer. As 
the Commission had no funds with which to carry on its work, 
it was decided that the teachers of the state would he asked 
(where they could he enlisted in the work) to volunteer their 
services in organizing afternoon or evening schools for the adult 
illiterates in their school districts. Suitable material and liter- 
ature for use of the teachers in these schools were prepared and 
furnished without cost to the teachers. Large numbers of teach- 
ers in many counties of the stale volunteered their services and 
organized and taught, for ;i month, schools of the kind men- 
tioned above. Many made reports of the work done and these 
reports were filed for record and tabulation, but it was impos- 
sible to get final reports from some of the teachers. 

The influenza epidemic seriously interfered with the cam- 
paign work outlined by the Commission; then, when the war 
began, and with the various war activities in progress, it was 
next to impossible to carry on any very definite work — in fact. 

3 



the Commission practically discontinued its work to a large 
extent during the period of the war. 

On account of the press of other work, Mrs. Harper resigned 
as a member of the Commission and Mrs. W. P. McDermott, 
Little Rock, was appointed to fill the vacancy. Upon the resig- 
nation of Airs. Harper as a member of the Commission and as 
its president, J. TV. Ramsey was elected as president. 

Negro Auxiliary Commission Appointed. 

After considering the work to be done by the Commission, it 
was decided that a Negro Auxiliary Commission, working under 
the direction of the State Illiteracy Commission, should be 
appointed to have charge of the illiteracy work among the 
negroes of the state. The following negroes were appointed to 
have this work in charge: H. H. Sutton, Little Rock; J. W. 
Brooks, Brinkley; Wm. Townseud, Pine Bluff; H. C. Yerger, 
Hope; P. H. Foster, Camden; P. A. Garrison, Almyra; and 
Eliza Robinzine. Dermott. II. H. Sutton and Eliza Robinzine 
were selected as Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the 
Negro Auxiliary Commission. 

Campaign For Funds Conducted. 

The Commission, in resuming its activities after the close of 
the war, decided that a state-wide campaign to secure voluntary 
subscriptions should be conducted. The banks of the state were 
especially asked to contribute funds for the work of the Com- 
mission. Many generously responded to the appeal, but it will 
be readily recognized that it is now a difficult thing to "raise 
money" for any purpose, however worthy, on account of the 
many, many calls that have been made upon the people. A 
financial statement, showing amount received and expended by 
the Commission, is given at the end of this report. 

State Field Worker Employed. 

As soon as sufficient funds had been raised to justify the 
expenditure, a field worker was employed to have charge and to 
organize for the Commission the illiteracy work in the state. 
Miss Sarah Luther, Field Worker for the Alabama Illiteracy 
Commission, was secured and did splendid work while in 
the state. The Alabama Commission could only release or loan 
her to the Arkansas Illiteracy Commission for three months. 



Poster That Won Second Prize in 
Illiteracy Commission's Contest 




but. in this short time Miss Luther organized Hie work and 
accomplished some good results. Then,, for the summer months 
of this vear. Miss Irene Jones was employed as Field Worker 
to do special work among the teachers 1 institutes. Miss Jones' 
report shows that she did good work. 

Statement of Work of Miss Sarah Lather 
(Field Worker from December 16, 1919, to March 16, 1920). 
Notwithstanding the outbreaks of influenza over the state 
and the unusually hard winter and had roads. Miss Luther 
secured effective organizations and did work among adult illit- 
erates in IT) counties, as follows: Benton, Carroll, Crawford, 
Garland, Miller, Monroe, Polk, Pope. Pulaski, Saline. Sebas- 
lian, Sevier. Washington. White, and Veil. The following 
is a summary of the reports from some of the adult schools 
taoii'hi : — 



TEACHER 



o'«o 



Arkansas . ...W. C. Buchanan Stuttgart 25 25 10 

Benton F. A. Wood ...Bentonville 10 10 15 

Benton .Mrs. F. W. Peal..... ..Bentonville 10 10 20 

Chicot CI. C. Barnett Dermott 3 3 10 

Chicot Eliza Robinzine Dermott 5 5 15 

Conway W. F. Hall Hattieville 9 9 20 

Conway Alvin Ashmore Austin 24 23 20 

Conway Dora E. Carson .Dist. 29 3 3 20 

Conway B.T.Bragg Morrilton 9 9 20 

Conway Isaiah Malone Menifee 12 12 20 

Conway Lewiniah Reese Plummerville 5 5 20 

Drew Velma Bottoms Monticello 20 20 40 

Drew Mrs. Anna G. Harris. ...Monticello 51 51 40 

Garland Clara Smith...... Sulphur 4 4 15 

Garland M. S. Gardner Lonsdale 3 3 20 

Garland G. Braughton Hot Springs 6 6 30 

Garland J. A. Chitwood Dist. No. 6 6 6 40 

Hempstead. D. L. Paisley Hope 4 4 30 

Jefferson J. G. Ish Pine Bluff 5 5 20 

Miller Wm. Crockett Homan 40 40 15 

Miller David Dickerson Texarkana R. 4 .... 29 18 30 

Miller ... .» ...T. A. Adams West Truck 37 37 15 

Miller L. Marion... Homan 35 29 15 

Miller Lula Cornelius Garland 35 35 15 

Miller Chas. Footes Dist. No. 1 20 6 20 

Miller G. L. Dansby Mandeville , 20 20 15 

Miller Callie Dansby Mandeville 15 15 15 

Miller Clara Logan ...Garland City 30 30 15 

Monroe T. F. Forest. Clarendon 12 12 10 



SUMMARY OF REPORT OF ADULT SCHOOLS TAUGHT— (Con.) 



l'EACHER ADDRESS 2 I ^p: 






Monroe Local Teachers Clarendon 4 4 15 

Pulaski I). A. Boen North L. R. ..... 41 41 30 

Pulaski .E.H.White North L. R 14 14 : J ,0 

Pulaski E. B.Gardner North L. R. 60 12 30 

Pulaski Nettie Sides ..North L. R 80 30 30 

Pulaski R. J. Mororty Camp Pike 2 2 10 

Pulaski Mrs. Gaither Confederate Home 3 3 20 

Pulaski Bert K. Brendle 

; nd 19 Others* Camp Pike- ...2120 2120 105 

Pulaski Mrs. A. S. Strickland .North L. R 5 5 15 

Pulaski lossie B. Arnold Little Rock 3 3 15 

Phillips 1. H. Blount ...Helena 48 48 15 

Saline T. A. Crandle Bryant 9 7 40 

Washington Thos. L. Wood ......Springdale 15 10 10 

White .... Searcy 9 9 15 



Colored 


Total 


15 


43 


21 


72 


247 


2900 


247 


2763 


375 


3240 



*Work done at Camp Pike. 

Summary Full Reports of Adult Schools Taught. 

White 

Number Schools 28 

Number Teachers 51 

Illiterates Taught 2653 

Taught 2516 

Total Number Days Taught in Schools 2865 

In addition to the above schools, there wore mam other 
schools taught of which no reports were made, and many, no 
doubt, of which the Commission has never heard. The follow- 
in" are some of the schools which were reported as organized 
or that would be organized, but the Commission was unable to 
secure final reports of the work done. 

County Teacher Address 

Monroe J. H. Crutchfield Holly Grove 

Phillips E. B. Tucker Helena 

Phillips Mrs. J. T. Moon Helena 

Ashley Roy W. West Crossett 

St. Francis ...J. M. Wilson... Forrest City 

Pulaski Blanche Martin Alexander 

Pulaski John Pipkin Little Rock 

Washington W. F. Buck Fayetteville 

Washington Rev. E. T. Mobley Winslow 

Conway lames Nunn Oppello 

Conway W. F. Miller Adona 

Mississippi S. C. Parish Wilson 

Miller W. H. Hilliard Garland 

Bradley Annie E. Tyler Jersey 



In addition to the actual school work done. Miss Luther 
did most effective work in getting the illiteracy work before the 
people of the state. She laid this matter very forcibly before 
the leading business, educational, and social organizations and 
individuals of the state. Some of these organizations are as fol- 
lows : State Bankers' Association, State Bar Association, State 
Federation of Women's Clubs, Little Rock Federation of 
Women's Clubs, the Business Women's Club, Little Rock, City 
Federation of Women's Clubs, Fort Smith, State Merchants' 
Association, Lions' Clubs in different cities of the state, various 
Church -Conferences, the Council of Jewish Women, and various 
Educational Conferences. 

All of the above organizations have given very valuable aid 
to the illiteracy work, some making contributions to help carry 
on the work. 

Miss Luther also secured the interested cooperation of the 
Press of the state, to which we are indebted for the much needed 
publicity of illiteracy conditions. 

It was the purpose of the Commission that the work so well 
begun should not be checked. With this idea in view, Mrs. 
M. G. Thompson, Hot Springs, was employed to succeed Miss 
Luther as Field Worker. Serious and continued illness in Mrs. 
Thompson's family, however, prevented her from continuing 
the work. The Commission was not able to secure any one else 
to take up the work until summer. 

Statement of Work of Miss Irene J ones 
( Field Worker During Summer Months, 1920). 

Miss Irene Jones, Superintendent of Leslie Schools, took up 
the work during the summer. She visited the county teachers' 
institutes to secure cooperation of teachers. At these meetings, 
the' illiteracy conditions of the state were discussed and the 
teachers were urged to make surveys in their own districts and 
to open evening schools for. adults.- In this way, four, hundred 
twenty-eight volunteer teachers agreed to do adult school work. 
It. was impossible, however,, on account of funds to follow up 
this work and to secure definite reports from theseschools. 

Other' Agencies Doing Work for Illiterates^ 
(Recruit Educafianat Center ; Camp. Pike). > 
The first Recruit Educational Center was established at 



Camp Upton where several methods of teaching have been tried 
oul and discarded until a practical and successful method has 

been evolved. However, the director does not insist on any one 
method or set of methods but ''methods unlimited, get results." 

Camp Pike R. E. C lias many advantages, since numerous 
problems had already been worked out at Camp Upton. 

Mr. Bert K. Brendle, Director R. E. C. ('amp Pike, re- 
cently sent from ('amp Upton, W. W. Baden, Assistant Direc- 
tor, and R. A. Ellis, Acting Assistant Director, are experienced 
men of special ability in this line of work. They are doing a 
wonderful work in educating the illiterates who are sent to the 
camp and in Americanizing the foreigners. 

Col. Morrison plans the care of 1,000 men in this R. E. C. 
after the work is fully organized. The students are men who 
have been enlisted as illiterates and non-English speaking. The 
hope of the schools is, not only to train and educate illiterates 
for service in the army, but also to spread through these men as 
missionaries the wish among the adults of the home communi- 
ties to learn to read and write and to stimulate sentiment in 
favor of better educational opportunities for coming generations. 

The first attempt in the construction of the course of study 
is based on human appeal around the main project, "a letter 
from home in the man's own hand and composition at the end 
of three weeks." 

The course requires from 4 to (> months' work — two school 
hours a day actual class work and much other that is instructive. 
For the purpose of administration, the course is divided into six 
grades with ten lessons to a grade. These grades are arbitrary 
and are not to be interpreted as grades of the traditional public 
school. Director Brendle and his as.Mstants feel that they have 
splendid conditions under which to work. With the loyal and 
intense interest that is given by Military authorities here, they 
say the work is unusually good. 

Director Brendle. Assistant Director Baden, and Acting 
Assistant Director Ellis, were very much interested in the work 
of the Arkansas Illiteracy Commission and cordially volun- 
teered any service they might be able to render. 

Federal Board for Vocational Education. 
Under the direction of David L. Peckenpaugh. between 



1,000 and 1,200 boys — ex-service men — in the state are beimg 
given vocational training. 

Mr. Peckenpaugh says that a large 1 number of these have to 
be given individual teaching, before they ean begin to take up. 
the vocational work. In many cases they are sent to a private 
teacher; a large number of others are sent to other schools. 
This work, the Director says, is greatly handicapped on account 
of illiteracy. Hundreds of boys cannot be induced to take ad- 
vantage of vocational work on account of this condition. 

There are doubtless other agencies in the state doing work 
of various kinds and in various ways for the benefit of illiter- 
ates, but the Commission was unable to find out what these 
agencies had accomplished. 

Compulsory School Attendance. 

Arkansas now has a state-wide compulsory school attend- 
ance law which requires the attendance for three-fourths the 
school term of all children between the ages of 7 and 15, inclus- 
ive. 

It is, of course, a hard matter to bring about and some time 
will be required to secure a general and full enforcement of the 
attendance law. but the Commission is pleased to know that the 
enforcement of this law is becoming more general. The state 
Department of Education is keeping the matter of the enforce- 
ment of the attendance, law continually before the teachers and 
school officials of the state. 

When the law is fully enforced throughout the state, the 
percentage of illiteracy can and will be decreased in that all 
persons under 10 years of age will be required to attend school 
and thus there will be no appreciable illiteracy of persons under 
16 years of age. 

Financial Slate men t. 
Receipts 

American Bible Society $ 10.00 

Appropriation by State Teachers' Association 125.00 

Women's Council of State Council of Defense. 949.90 

Council of Jewish Women (Little Rock) 25.00 

Current Events Club (Little Rock) 25.00 

Siloam Springs Ice Company 50.00 

A. M. E. Church (Sherrill and Pine Bluff Districts) 100.00 

National Society Colonial Dames 25.00 

10 



Refund, Miss Sarah Luther (Account Stenographic 

Work) 3.50 

Memorial Chapter U. D. C. (Little Rock) 10.50 

Little Rock City Federation Women's Clubs 40.00 

Nicholas Headington Chapter U. S. D. ( Proceeds Sale 

$50.00 Liberty Bond) 44.90 

Subscriptions from Banks 1,710.00 

Personal Subscriptions 85.00 

Miscellaneous „ 200.50 

Colonial Dames of America 300.00 

Arkansas State Educational Association 125.00 

Loaned to Commission by Arkansas State Educational 

Association 1,000.00 

Little Rock Federation Women's Clubs 50.00 

Interest on Deposits 32.45 

Total $4,810.75 

Expenditures 

Salary Paid Field Workers $1,179.84 

Traveling Expenses (Incurred by Field Workers) 788.81 

Extra Clerk Hire and Stenographic Help 240.58 

Postage 170.00 

Printing 363.15 

Telegrams and Phone Messages 38.56 

Traveling Expenses (Members Commission).... 256.69 

Prizes and Material Furnished (Poster Contest) 68.70 

Transcribing Illiteracy Data from U. S. Census Re- 
ports. Washington, D. C 1,753.00 

Expenses Meeting of Commission November 12 17.00 

Total $4,859.33 

Expenditures Above Receipts $ 48.58 

Other Work Done. 

Mr. YY. A. Ramsey made a trip to Washington City recently 
and had a transcript made of the adult illiterates of abont half 
the state. 16 year- of age and over, with the age and address of 
each. This transcript included territory mostly in the white belt 
of the state. These figures show that 6.34 per cent of adults 
in the territory included, 16 years of age and over, can neither 
read nor write. 

This is valuable and important information since it will 
enable the Commission to go directly at the task of removing 
illiteracy in an intelligenl way without so much expense and 
loss of rime. This is an advanced step for the Commission. 
Only four other states so far have attempted to secure this infor- 
mation in interest of their illiteracy work. 

This transcirpl for the whole >tate could not he completed on 
account of a lack of funds. This work should be pushed to an 

11 



early completion. Otherwise, the work of the Commission must 
be materially hindered until the Census Reports are published 
three years hence. This particular work and the real work of 
the Commission at home makes it imperative that the Legisla- 
ture make an appropriation for the use of the Commission. It 
is the purpose of the Commission to put this work into the hands 
of a strong organizer at once, and to leave nothing undone to 
remove illiteracy from the state. 



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